RMG workers go berserk in Savar

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Garment workers vandalised over 30 factories, two banks and three markets and set fire to a lorry and damaged over 40 vehicles in Savar yesterday following the rumour of a fellow worker’s death in a road accident.

Over 100 workers and pedestrians were injured during the attacks launched by several hundred garment workers who also blockaded the Abdullahpur-DEPZ road for five hours causing immense sufferings to commuters.

Rupali, factory operator of Sharmin Group, and her sister Dipali of the same factory were hit by a lorry while they were crossing the road in front of the factory at Narasinghapur at about 8:00am yesterday.

A doctor of Sharmin Group rushed seriously injured Rupali to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from where she was later shifted to a clinic.

Sub-Inspector Mazharul Islam of Ashulia Police Station, who rescued the victims, told The Daily Star last night that the two workers had not died although at first he thought Rupali did.

Hearing the news of the accident, over 1,500 workers of Sharmin Group came out on the street and set fire to the lorry that hit the two workers and beat up its driver Abul Hossain. Later, police rescued and arrested the driver.

Firefighters rushed to the spot to douse the fire but they had to leave the scene soon in the face of protest by the workers.

Meanwhile, over 3,000 workers of nearby Mettler Apparels, who had gathered in front of their factory to protest its closure two days ago, joined the agitating workers of Sharmin Group.

Together they barricaded the Abdullahpur-DEPZ Highway and damaged over 40 vehicles on the road.

A group of angry workers also marched towards the DEPZ and tried to enter it at about 10:30am to gather more workers. But police intercepted them in front of Ashulia Police Station.

At this stage, the workers went on a rampage vandalising over 30 factories, three markets and two banks on the roadside.

They hurled stones and brickbats at the windows of the roadside structures and used bamboo sticks to bludgeon windowpanes and furniture.

Markets and banks that came under the attacks are Bhuiyan National Plaza, Chowdhury Plaza, Samir Plaza Shopping Complex, South East Bank Ltd and Jamuna Bank.

The affected garment factories include Setara Group of Industries, Star Link Creation, Star Link Style, Scan Dex Knitwear, AN Design Ltd, Envoy Ltd, Design Dreams Ltd, Tisa Fashion, Nur Textile Ltd, Linda Fashion, Vertex Fashion, Universe Garments and Nasa Groups.

Over 100 people including garment employees, commuters and pedestrians were wounded during the attacks.

Many labourers, pedestrians and drivers and passengers became panicky to see the rampaging garment workers. A few drivers even left their vehicles on the road.

Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the road for hours.

Members of the army, Rapid Action Battalion and police brought the situation under control at about 12:00 noon after persuading the agitating workers to leave the spot. The movement of transport became normal at about 1:00pm.

Ashulia police said they arrested lorry driver Abul Hossain but no case was filed as of 8:00pm.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA) condemned yesterday’s attacks on the export-oriented garment factories by a vested quarter and said they do not know how long the garment industry could be kept alive after this incident.

A BGMEA press release issued by its Secretary Fasihur Rahman said a vested quarter ransacked around 50 garment factories after forcing out their workers and staffs by spreading the rumour that two garment workers had died after being hit by a lorry.

The BGMEA expressed its surprise at the government’s failure to ensure timely security for the affected garment factories although the incident occurred in broad daylight.

“The BGMEA believes that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure security for the industry,” the press release said.

It said, “Subversive activities have often been carried out at different garment factories using the workers without any issue and the BGMEA has called upon the government every time to bring the conspirators to book.

“The BGMEA believes that if such activities continue, buyers will lose interest in buying garment products from Bangladesh while exporters will also not be able to continue their business,” the BGMEA press release added.

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